About

Updates #3, #4, #5

Deepworld is getting all kinds of fun new features, just in time for our backers to come join the fun in a couple of weeks! We've added avatar customization, achievements, lots of new items, and we're close to finishing our awesome custom sign builder so you can label your fine creations. More is coming, too, and we'll keep you posted! Thanks for your continued support!

We've been working hard to make Deepworld more fun and social than ever; our latest features let you follow your friends and teleport across the entire universe! We think it really differentiates Deepworld from other sandbox games. You don't have to just read about other peoples' creations - you can literally go visit them (and say hi to the creator!)

Deepworld is a 2D crafting adventure game with a persistent, online sandbox universe just waiting for you to explore! It's built in the cloud, so you can join up with your friends at any time to journey through the depths, create new worlds, or visit other players' fabulous creations - on your Mac, iOS devices, and PC (and hopefully Android, too!)

We at Bytebin Studios have been working on Deepworld for six months, and it's almost ready for Mac beta! We just need your help to really rock it out over the next few months while we do battle with servers, chaos, and dwindling supplies of ramen noodles. We promise you're going to have a blast in the game!

"Deepworld looks really fascinating, and it's a title we will probably be proud to have on Mac and iOS." -TUAW

"I’m really excited to see what three bright-eyed indie developers can pull off with Deepworld." -TouchGen

Our Backstory

A year ago, the three of us built a Minecraft server on the cloud and lost some quality time to creepers, wildfires, and sheep. It was tons of fun, but the whole server setup experience was difficult, expensive, and hard to maintain. And we do computer stuff for a living! We thought, "What if there was a cloud-based sandbox game? That would be Super Duper Fun!" And then we thought, why not build one?

Where We're At

We've been developing Deepworld since September of 2011, most of it part-time while we work "real" programming jobs. We've made awesome progress and we have learned a ton.

Deepworld is already on the cloud, with auto-upgrading game clients ready to begin distribution to beta users. We've played with dozens of players at once without a hitch, and our architecture is ready to scale much, much farther than that.

Deepworld is already a blast to play, but we have a lot more in store! Our roadmap for the future is ambitious and exciting:

A living ecosystem in each world that can be returned from dilapidation to splendor

A steam-based power system to create machinery and transportation

Mini-games like Capture the Flag, Freeze Tag, and more

Social directories to help discover other players' creations

Quests, puzzles, and monsters

Dynamic and player-manipulatable music

Why Kickstarter

We've come a long way since September, but now that the game is close to launch we want to dedicate our full attention to it. We're going full-time on this beast and we could use your help to buy a little ramen here and there! We also have a bunch of other miscellaneous expenses: audio design, legal fees, server costs, etc.

We love the Kickstarter community, and in backing other projects we've seen project owners make great progress due to backer involvement. We've already seen great ideas in our game forums, and we know that Kickstarter would amplify that by a ton!

Rewards

As a backer, you will get early membership to the game ($5 estimated value) and private access to Kickstarter-exclusive worlds. Everybody will get their membership around the same time (June) - any estimated dates listed later are for the bonus rewards only.

Thank You!

We hope you find Deepworld as exciting an idea as we do. It really is almost ready to launch, and we hope you can help back our dreams to the next level!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 150 or more
About US$ 150

All previous rewards plus integration of your name into the game! Your name will appear on buildings, signs, and maybe even a tombstone or two. You will also get a high-quality print edition of the digital art book, signed by the developers (for int'l shipping please add $10).

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 400 or more
About US$ 400

All previous rewards plus integration into game lore! Your name and creations will be featured in our quest generation (for example, you may appear as an NPC or journal entry inside a crumbling version of a castle you built in the game).

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 1,000 or more
About US$ 1,000

All previous rewards plus integration into the game's artwork! A person or image of your choosing (subject to review) will be drawn by our illustrious illustrator and included in the game as a small item (like a painting, small statue, article of clothing, etc.), as well as printed on deluxe canvas and shipped to your home.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 2,500 or more
About US$ 2,500

All previous rewards plus *transcendant* status in the game. Your character will sparkle with power and all who see you pass will know you are a badass. You will have special powers like levitation, telekinesis, and other things too awesome to mention. Your art integration will also be a little bigger (like a stained glass window, large statue, etc.)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 5,000 or more
About US$ 5,000

All previous rewards plus the development team will play Deepworld online along with you and your friends for a few hours while Mike spins and streams a custom mix of the game music. Your art integration will be featured in a big way - a terrifying monster who roams the deeps, a major NPC, etc. - we'll work together to pick something really cool!